Determinants of social security coverage among gig workers in Indonesia

The rapid expansion of the gig economy has raised growing concerns about the adequacy of social protection systems for workers engaged in non-standard employment. While many studies document the rise of platform-mediated work, limited empirical evidence examines how gig workers interact with formal welfare systems, particularly in developing countries. This study addresses this gap by analysing the determinants of social security coverage among gig workers in Indonesia. Using nationally representative microdata from the 2022 National Labour Force Survey, gig workers are identified as casual workers in non-agricultural sectors engaged in digitally mediated work activities. A probit regression model is employed to estimate the probability of accessing social protection, including health insurance, occupational accident insurance, or life insurance. The findings show that gig workers are significantly less likely to obtain social security coverage compared with workers in traditional employment arrangements, indicating a structural welfare gap associated with platform-based work. Furthermore, human capital characteristics such as education, training, and skills do not necessarily increase access to social protection among gig workers. These findings contribute by demonstrating how digital labour arrangements may reinforce welfare exclusion in developing labour markets and underscores the need for adaptive social protection policies in the evolving digital economy.